CHAMPAIGN -- The season is already off and running for Illinois basketball. Nobody needs to remind Illini freshman center Meyers Leonard.

The athletic 7-footer from Robinson showed off his athleticism Sunday, when he ran the floor and finished with a team-high 23 points during the orange and blue intrasquad scrimmage. Leonard was 9-for-13 from the field, often finding himself open underneath for easy baskets by running end to end, while also grabbing seven rebounds.

"You're trying to show you have work ethic, show them you have everything'' said Leonard, who led Robinson to the Class 2A state title last March. "You're trying to show them you have skill. You can work hard and play defense, but you have to be able to score.''

Illinois hosts Division II Lewis in the exhibition opener Friday. With such little time to prepare before a flurry of five games in the season's first 12 days, Illini coach Bruce Weber stressed defense and transition offense. Leonard, who will backup senior center Mike Tisdale, fits nicely into that plan.

"That was coach's main thing for Meyers,'' said Illini freshman Jereme Richmond. "Get out, use his athleticism to beat Tisdale and the other bigs down the floor for easy baskets. He did a good job with that.''

It was a good start, Weber said, although Leonard will have to work on those five turnovers.

"He played very well,'' Weber said. "His is a matter of learning the game, figure it all out as much as anything. He can run. That's one of the first things. He's a 7-footer who can run like a deer. He jumps pretty well. His (challenge) is more in the half-court and figuring out the game. He played one speed, his speed. Hopefully, we can change that over time.''

Weber said it might take until December to determine the backup point guard behind McCamey, one of the key questions heading into the season. Sophomores Brandon Paul, Joseph Bertrand and Richardson plus freshman Joseph Bertrand and Crandall Head all played the role of ballhandler in the scrimmage.

"You've got a lot more guys who can handle the basketball than we did last year,'' Weber said. "It will ease the pressure on Demetri. It won't make us so one dimensional. Who is the guy? I don't know. At least we have options. That will evolve as it gets into the games. It will probably be December until we get it figured out.''

NOTES: The scrimmage was a series of three eight-minute games and one six-minute game. . . Tisdale won the 3-point shooting contest, hitting eight in the 30-second semifinal and six in the 30-second final against Richardson, who made five. . . Chicago De La Salle senior forward Mike Shaw, who is uncommitted, and Chicago Orr senior guard Mycheal Henry made official visits this weekend. Henry has given a verbal commitment and will sign in November. . .